witesoxfan

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 11:42 AM) I make no apologies for having a good time You be careful, we'll ship you to Boston just like we did with Brian Anderson.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 11:36 AM) I thought we were looking for consistency here... Last year was the first that Markakis was below average offensively. He's always typically been a 105-115 wRC+ with a few other really good years chipped in, and the 88 he had last year is better than many people's worst. Rios, on the other hand, has ranged from 60 to 125, and he's been everywhere in between, plus he'll be 34 heading into next season.

I blame Kyyle for the catastrophe last night. Didn't show enough heart in the game thread.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 11:19 AM) Any ideas? The name that jumps out at me in the free agent market is Nick Markakis. He's got a $17.5 mutual option with a $2 mill buy out. I can't see any way he doesn't pick it up nor any way that Baltimore does pick it up. It seems to me that this regime has always really liked him and, while he's a little bit older, he'll only be 31 next year. You can likely sign him to a 3-4 year deal and be fairly certain he'll maintain his production. He's not a great defensive player, but there are plenty of guys who are worse out there. Either he or Garcia would have to move to LF, but that shouldn't be a major concern. The Oliver projections are not kind to him, but I don't think I'd pay much attention to that. He had a bad year last year and they were done prior to the season. I think you can reasonably expect him to be a solid bat in the middle to lower portion of the lineup, just a guy who can help keep the train moving. 3 year, $38 million with a team option for the 4th at $14 million with a $2 million buy out (structure it like $10/$12/$14/$2 or $14) with the standard incentives. Perhaps to persuade him you could make the team option vest after a certain number of plate appearances, but that's not a necessity.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 11:07 AM) Ahh, I'm just tired of Viciedo. Of course, I've been tired of Viciedo for three years now. I suppose it depends on whether they plan on upgrading the pitching staff with a veteran starter, or if they are going to take another year to try and develop one. If the latter is the case, there is no point in displacing Viciedo. If they believe they can compete for the division/WC and want to move up the timetable a bit, then I think you've got to upgrade that position. No, I agree on Viciedo, but Rios hasn't been a beacon of consistency throughout his career either. I'd rather they look to acquire someone they know is good with an eye towards competing next year, but yeah, if they don't, I'd prefer Viciedo. Rios is nowhere near my radar though.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 10:56 AM) Yeah, that is a bit bizarre. Given the relative lack of availability of other options next year though, I could think of worse risks to take. I could too, but I think Viciedo is a better risk to take than Rios.

Yeah, I want nothing to do with Rios. I was mostly making jokes.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 09:58 AM) The day Jermaine Dye came in at shortstop was hilarious. Yes it was. They almost won that game too. I can't remember where I posted it, but I seriously just talked about Dunn pitching not that long ago. That's why this is so awesome.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 09:54 AM) No doubt (I doubt anyone disagrees there) but the hype, comparisons, etc. Cubs fans, media, etc. give these two is pretty ridiculous. I love Bryant, I love Soler. Obviously I'm not a scout, but even I don't see some of the hofty crap with those two (and with Bryant I could at least understand since he is awesome ) Yeah, I changed my post a little bit. The 3 guys I really, really like from their system are Bryant, Soler, and Russell. I like Baez, but there's just a lot of boom/bust going on there, and I don't understand why Almora has gotten the rankings and praise he has other than based on where he was drafted. His numbers look a lot like Christian Colon's.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 09:39 AM) I think he's the most overrated prospect of their top guys (close with Almora) but their is no denying his talent. I think he's a much, much better prospect than Almora. I see what you're saying. I still find it kind of hard to agree with. Almora is holding his own in AA, but Baez has been fairly good at a very similar age at a higher level.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 5, 2014 -> 05:22 PM) You're telling that to someone who posted at WSI for 7 years... Well we don't run our board like the USSR runs their country, so you're pretty safe in these parts.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 09:13 AM) Chris Carter was also in A ball when he was Baez's age. That's true. It still doesn't change a thing I said.

I don't think there's anything wrong with stating that Baez has the look of a boom or bust prospect, but he will definitely be given every chance to prove himself. I think of a guy like Chris Carter, who also put up really good numbers in the minors but had better walk and strikeout rates. He's also a 1B, but he's been incredibly mediocre as a pro.

QUOTE (WKamm @ Aug 5, 2014 -> 06:42 PM) I don't care how well he's hitting. I will never like Tyler Flowers. "Bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, Sox down 1, Semien leads off first, and Flowers swings AND THERE'S A DRIVE, WAY BACK TO LEFT FIELD, AND IT'S GONE! THE WHITE SOX HAVE WON THE WORLD SERIES ON A WALK OFF 2-RUN HOMER BY TYLER FLOWERS! IT'S TOO BAD WKAMM SAID HE'D NEVER LIKE TYLER FLOWERS BECAUSE THIS IS AN ACT OF LEGENDS."

Next, he will take over as the starting shortstop. Soon, he will be managing and GMing the team. Then he will own the White Sox, and he will eventually be elected to be the mayor of Chicago. Shortly thereafter, he will be elected as a Congressional Representative to Congress. Ultimately, he will be the 47th President of the United States of America. On his first night in office, his Vice President (the leading candidate is Scott Podsednik) will ask him "Gee, Adam, what do you want to do tonight?" He'll reply "The same thing we do every night, Scott - try to take over the world."

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Aug 5, 2014 -> 05:51 PM) I'll take Leury. I thought the Rangers would get something decent for him; but that they couldn't do anything, despite the lack of available RH hitters, just shows that Rios' general uselessness cannot hide. I wouldn't say uselessness. To continue on with the "picking up chicks at the bar" analogies, Rios is a decent looking girl who has a lot of baggage that you just don't want to deal with. He's not a bad player, but he's just not someone you actively seek out.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 07:20 AM) Wow, then it does seem like it might have made sense for the Sox to claim him. At the same time, the Sox are trying to build towards the future. They have a few talented left handed pitchers in Surkamp, Leesman, and Snodgress and I think they are going to give them extended try outs for the remainder of the season to see if any of them can become a viable option long term. Frankly, you can't count on Thornton past next year, and given the Sox luck with their 38 year old LOOGY this year, I can't see them willing to pay another $4 million for a 38 year old LOOGY next year either.

QUOTE (MU Mike @ Aug 5, 2014 -> 04:58 PM) I appreciate the kind words. But I'm realistic as well. Even though I'm his biggest fan with the exception of our mom, he struggles sometimes and needs to be more reliable if he's going to get a shot next year in someone's rotation. Unfortunately he's a pitch-to-contact guy and when those balls are being pounded in the dirt, he's effective. If not, it can get ugly! Still, guys like that can carve out good careers and can make some good money. Jon Garland threw a bit harder, but that's the kind of profile Scott fits. Same as Josh Fogg. And I'm sure given the personality, he'll do whatever it takes to get and stay on the club, even if it's as a swing man type of guy.

Sox should claim him and trade Leury Garcia for him.

QUOTE (BaconOnAStick @ Aug 5, 2014 -> 04:50 PM) In his second stint starting this year he has actually has been a decent starter. 4.43 ERA and 3.65 FIP in that span is worthy of a rotation spot (esp considering he plays in an AL band box). Many here of course dont like him because he doesn't light up a radar gun, but he has a knack for creating outs. The league had a chance to figure him out and turn him into a batting tee and it hasn't happened. Erik Johnson, who lasted a month in the bigs and has gotten shelled in Charlotte ever since, will get more love. Same goes for John Danks, who has been worse than Carroll this year and costs $14.5m. As long as Carroll holds the course for the rest of the year there is absolutely no reason to disregard him in the 2015 plans at least as a spot starter/long man. Erik Johnson destroyed the minors, and if his velocity returns, he should be a good pitcher. I don't know how big that if is at the moment. John Danks also has a history of good pitching performance, but he's been very mediocre since returning from injury. He's also getting paid and you can't just cut that without trying to get some kind of return. That is basic economic thought. Still, Scotty's definitely in consideration for the plans next year, especially if he continues to pitch well.

QUOTE (MU Mike @ Aug 5, 2014 -> 04:23 PM) Obviously I'm biased since I'm his older brother, but I think Scotty (Carroll) could be an effective middle reliever. I think the role suits him, and his bullpen stint this year was a good experience. By the way, love the enthusiasm for the Sox on this board. My brother may not be an all-star, or even a solid rotation guy, but he's a good dude who doesn't take himself too seriously. I think that's why some people have become fans of his. Like south-siders, he's a grinder whose persistence paid off. And maybe a little luck helped as well with so many guys going down earlier this year! I've really enjoyed my trips to the Cell this year to watch him pitch. Well, except for that Cubs game. That sucked. He felt awful after that game. He's definitely an underdog, but it's easy to root for guys like that. He reminds me a lot of Josh Fogg, and Fogg carved out a hell of a career and made some money in the process too.

Yeah, I am glad too. It's hard to sit here and say that Johnson would have dropped such a great deal and Davidson wouldn't even though both have had incredibly disappointing years, but Johnson's velocity is down like 2-3 MPH from last year and his command is way worse.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Aug 5, 2014 -> 03:30 PM) Oh absolutely, I mean the great Pablo Ozuna was using so my whole world was destroyed after that anyways. They found that Chris Widger was using performance enhancing drugs (crushed souls and Miller Lites) but were too afraid to reprimand him for the wrath he would cause.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 5, 2014 -> 03:28 PM) I've always liked Jones, but was actually kind of surprised he has never recorded a save. I would have sworn he had 4 or 5. Yeah, when I saw you mention that, I was surprised too, but it seemed that once Ventura got confidence in him, he was always one of the first to get the call with Reed going in the 9th. In the conference call with Dan Fabian back in March, he mentioned that the Sox have sort of focused on getting good guys for the middle innings and that a closer doesn't have to necessarily be a great reliever but just someone who can get 3 outs. After the year they've had, I wonder if they are going to re-think the logic behind that. In theory, that is true - a lot of times, you'll have a 2 or 3 run lead, and you can afford to make a mistake or two. But in practice, it has been an absolute disaster. Maybe they will prioritize getting a really good bullpen arm for the end of games. It ultimately may cost more than what they got in return for Reed, but he could certainly be better than Reed too. Sometimes, the best way to learn is to get burned.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 5, 2014 -> 03:17 PM) If Hahn used FIP like has been suggested, he replaced Reed with Belisario. He replaced a 3.17 FIP with a 3.64 FIP and paid an extra $2.5 million. I'm guessing he didn't use FIP. I think he actually intended on having Jones replace Reed and then using Belisario in a middle reliever/setup role. Jones got hurt and then subsequently got hurt again. I still think Jones would be a good closer, but it'll obviously be a while before we can ever find out (and we may never find out).